Among the parables narrated by Jesus is the Parable of the House on the Rock or the House of the Two Foundationsin it Jesus comes to show the two types of believers that they can exist. Those who are listeners of the Word, only, and those who hear and act, in favor of having a healthier life, spiritually.
The representation that Jesus makes is developing the action of construction, another characteristic activity of the time in which it is narrated. Making the symbolic use and the direct exclamation of the appropriate use of the teaching of the God’s word.
Contextualizing the Parable
You have to know what happened before narrating this parable and thus understand the emphasis that Jesus gives it, since it happened after Jesus narrates his famous Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes (Matthew 5 1: 12).
Also, then he explains the importance of putting his word into action, to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. (Matthew 5: 13-16).
Like other teachings such as compliance with the law from a heart full of love, where by filling it with religiosity it denied the true implanted law (Matthew 5:17-48; 6:1-15).
Likewise, the importance of the exercise of working in the work of the Lord and staying in communion with the Father, raising trust in God as the provider of their lives. (Matthew 6: 22-34).
And finally, showing the two paths: the narrow gate and the wide one, in which he emphasizes the believer taking the one that leads to salvation. Being very direct with these words:
“Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of the Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21)
Jesus wanted his words to reach the depths of hearts, causing them to have genuine repentance, and for their lives to be completely transformed.
PTherefore, after each of these teachings, he narrates this parable, which says the following:
The rain came down, and the rivers came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and it did not fall, because it was founded on the rock.
But whoever hears these words from me and does not do them, I will compare him to a foolish man, who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, and the rivers came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and he fell, and his ruin was great.
And when Jesus finished these words, the people were amazed at his doctrine. For he taught him as one having authority, and not as the scribes »(Matthew 7: 24-29).
House building process
Jesus speaks in the parable of two men who are building a house, one of them called prudent and the other foolisheach one has a technique to build, one decides to do it on a rocky base or foundation and the other determines his base on the sand.
The first man thinking about the solidity of the foundation of his house, digs very deep until he finds the firm and rocky ground, in order to build his foundations and raise his home.
The second, on the other hand, wants to finish the construction quickly, so he does not make an effort to build it on a solid base, but instead does it on the sand without deepening the bases.
At the arrival of the rainy season, both houses are hit by the waters, and the house of the latter is destroyed, suffering the consequences of imprudence in not consolidating the foundations of his house. Unlike the man who disposed of his time, he had to dig until he had a strong base, which he stood on.
From this we learn that things done without care, without love, without foresight will fall to the ground, because they do not have strong foundations. And the things made with foundations are those that remain firm, and unshakable.
Spiritual Aspect of the Parable
The first thing to analyze in this parable is that Jesus says: “Anyone, well, who hears these words” referring to all previous teachings given by him to his listeners.
And when he claims that anyonethat everyone, not a specific group, talking about how inclusive his speech was. And especially in the believers of the Word.
Construction of the house on the Rock
Continuing with the story, Jesus represents the first type of believer, who can be found on the path of God, narrated as follows:
“and does them, I will compare him to a prudent man, who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, and the rivers came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and it did not fall, because it was founded on rock” (Matthew 7: 24-25)
To do
“And does them” take action, which was what he emphasized in his speech, in being doers of the Word. That each of the teachings could transform their lives, through continuous action.
the prudent man
“I will compare him to a prudent man” The reference that Jesus makes is from a believer in the Word of God, who has it as a way of life. Who studies the Bible, does work from it, is in constant prayer, building a spiritual room full of the fruits of the Spirit:
“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5: 22-23)
this prudent man deepens in the knowledge of GodThey are not satisfied with the little they can receive in the congregation or church, they look for more every day:
“He delights in the law of the Lord, and meditates on it day and night. That man is like a tree planted by the streams; when the time comes he gives the fruit of it; and its leaves do not fall; and whatever he does, he will prosper” (Psalms 1: 2-3)
this believer stops to meditate on who God is in his life, and shows him through action the value he gives him. He invests himself in obtaining and experiencing the presence of God, in everything he does. Likewise, he examines his thoughts and motivations on how to act correctly before God.
And an important point is that the sensible believer it discerns the things that are of God and those that are not. This is the product of the direction of the Holy Spirit and his constant communion with the Heavenly Father that makes him face things in a wise way.
Build the house on the Rock
“he built his house on the rock” when he talks about building, it is build take the time to prepare a placeassemble the parts, in this case talk of how the believer prepares himself in the knowledge of God, of the time dedicated to building his relationship with Him. And in which he can build solid bases.
when he talks about HouseI know refers to the believerwho in his daily life is forming and building a spiritual house, within himself, being a place where the presence of God rests. “Don’t you know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
The rock refers to Jesus and his Wordthe one that comes to sustain the believer. “My God, and the rock of my salvation” (Psalms 89: 26) “He alone is my rock and my salvation…” (Psalms 62: 2) the foundation in the life of the believer is that rock that comes to transform his life:
“For no other foundation can be laid than the one that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11)
The rain and winds whip the house
«Rain descended, and rivers came, and winds blew, and beat against that house; and it did not fall, because it was founded on rock.”
Assuming that the prudent man is the one who is affirmed in the Word of God, he is not exempt from having problems, experiencing difficult situations, illnesses or some suffering, a product of the world that surrounds him.
Being hit in some way in your emotional and spiritual stability. But in such situations their attitude when facing them is firm, they do not faint in faith, because their foundation is consolidated in God, they are not destroyed or dejected.
Construction of the house on the sand
Continuing with the parable, Jesus refers to the other type of believer, and explains it as follows:
«and he does not do them, I will compare him to a foolish man, who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, and the rivers came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and he fell, and his ruin was great” (Matthew 7: 26-27)
Not to do
«and does not do them» Jesus is speaking of those believers who, listening to his teaching, do not act. Those who attend Churches, listen to the message and do nothing to improve their lives.
the foolish man
The foolish man is he who has no desire to know Godand their promises. He is the one who reads the Bible, prays, can attend church, but his heart is far from Him.
is the one cares about looking good, dress well, be perfumed, have a pleasant physique. He is in the church sitting in the first rows, but he does not worship, he is an iceberg, his body is in the church, but his heart is diverted to the passions of the world.
this kind of believer has no spiritual discernmentis dead for sin, his vision remains clouded by abandonment to the practice of the Word:
“He who hears the word is the seed sown among the stones, who at that moment receives it with joy, but his joy does not last long because he has little root; when affliction or persecution comes because of the word it fails” (Matthew 13: 20-21)
Build on the Sand
“who built his house on the sand” In the same way as the previous one, he builds his spiritual house but in this case, he does not strive to build it on a solid foundation.
The sand refers to the desires of the flesh, to the thoughts that come to dishonor God and his commandments. It is the world where God does not exist, in which eyes are set on vanity, the momentary pleasures of life, where there are no rules to follow.
the rain came
“And the rain descended, and the rivers came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and he fell, and his ruin was great.”
As in the previous case, difficult circumstances arrive, tough problems, cancerous diseases, economic shortages, but in this case they do not stand the test, they give up and are shot down for the situations that they have to live.
They do not resist the problem, the product of building their lives in the flesh, bringing a curse to their lives “If you sow for the flesh, says the Scripture, you will reap corruption and ruin” (Galatians 6: 8)
A teaching for the believer
The parable culminates as the listeners were astonished by this teaching “And when Jesus finished these words, the people were amazed at his doctrine. For he taught him as one having authority, and not as the scribes “(Matthew: 7: 28-29)
At the time that Jesus narrates this parable, there were various teachers and scholars of the word, but the form of narration that he used with the parables was what differentiated them, together with the level of authority that was reflected in the confrontation with the minds of the listeners, who obeyed what Jesus said.
The parable of the house on the rock He comes to speak to all believers, so that they can evaluate their condition at this moment, so that they can see if that doctrine of behavior and teaching is leading them to salvation or to eternal damnation.
That believers can see with what foundations they are building their spiritual houses, if it is the foundation of Jesus Christ or that of sin. It is an alert to the self-assessment of his …